News

‘RED’ iPod nano being announced tomorrow [updated, confirmed]

By LC Angell ● Thursday, October 12, 2006

U2’s Bono will reportedly announce a special edition red iPod during tomorrow’s Oprah Winfrey Show as part of the Product RED initiative aimed at battling AIDS. According to two separate reports by Apple enthusiast sites, the show was taped earlier today in Chicago and featured Bono and a 4GB “iPod nano RED.” The special nano will reportedly be priced at the same $199, with $10 of each sale going to the Global Fund to support AIDS programs in Africa.

Oprah’s website currently has the following teaser posted: “Get ‘red’-y! It’s something so huge, it took Oprah, Bono and a convertible to make it happen! Plus, Penelope Cruz and Kanye West are in on it! An extraordinary launch! Chicago goes ‘red’ today and this is just the beginning!” Rumors of a Product RED iPod first surfaced in February. Companies including American Express, Converse, Gap and Armani have all released specially-designed red products as part of the project.

Update: The Chicago Tribune is now reporting that it has confirmed with both Apple and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS that a Product RED iPod will be introduced tomorrow.

Comments

41

BJ -yea. it’s ok. I admit that it was a pretty reactionary comment from me in the first place.

Posted by John Meche on October 13, 2006 at 10:23 AM (CDT)

42

I’m honestly tired of this overuse in modern culture of the word “awareness.” Awareness is merely acknowledgement. Everyone ackowledges (or is aware) already that Africa has a problem with AIDS. We’ve been aware for the past ten years. Awareness is not what we need ... we have PLENTY of that. If you’re not aware of what AIDS is or that Africa has a problem with it (a MAJOR problem with it), then you’ve been living under a boulder for the last quarter-century or more, in which case you wouldn’t know what the hell an iPod is anyway. No, what we need is the funds to go NOT to AWARENESS, but to a CURE, and a VACCINE. A VACCINE for those who already have it; a CURE for those who do not. There is no reason why people shouldn’t just be able to f u c k who they want indiscriminately without the fear of catching something if that’s what they want to do—although, personally, I am against such whorish behavior ... or have to worry that if they need a blood-transfusion that it might actually be the cure that kills them.

Posted by Charles O. on October 13, 2006 at 4:29 PM (CDT)

43

Charles—I think you’re misunderstanding something here. The money that Apple is raising isn’t going toward awareness. It’s going to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. That group “focuses its investments in AIDS programs, especially for women and children.”

The “awareness” that they talk about is simply a byproduct of this and other initiatives.

You want proof? Everyone in this thread is MUCH more aware of this situation than we were a few days ago, without purchasing a red iPod Nano. Even if we were already aware, the situation is now closer to the forefront of our thoughts.

Posted by BJ Nemeth on October 13, 2006 at 10:05 PM (CDT)

44

You’re so full of it, BJ. The purpose of this “(PROJECT)” as STATED in the article is to RAISE AWARENESS. THINK BEFORE you respond.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be MORE aware of the problem than we already are. Period. And that is a fact.